American companies express interest in Bengal smart city

US-based multinationals like HP, Cisco and Otis have expressed interest in partnering with the West Bengal government in giving shape to the smart city projects of the stateTasmayee Laha Roy | ET Bureau | September 09, 2015, 18:55 IST

Contrary to popular perception that 100 smart cities means entire Delhi, Mumbai, or Chennai will become smart cities, the plan is only to transform a few blocks in such cities.Representative picture of GIFT smart city KOLKATA: US-based multinationals like HP, Cisco and Otis have expressed interest in partnering with the West Bengal government in giving shape to the smart city projects of the state. All of these companies are looking into getting into a technological collaboration with state government agencies.

Following the road show organised in Delhi by the state government on Monday to attract investors, they also met MNC representatives.

Two officials of the US department of treasury had been to Kolkata to discuss the state’s plans to develop the smart cities. West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO) is also working with the representatives of Future Cities Catapult (FCC), a UK-based urban planning agency, to plan how the smart cities can be developed. Bengal has signed an MoU with FCC in London during chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s recent visit there.

Presently the state government is inviting bids for the cities till September 21.